Bomb shackle and release



G. H. LELAND BOMB SHACKLE AND RELEASE June 21, 1949.

5 SheetsSheet l Filed Sept. 2'7, 1945 INVENTOR. EEUREEH L ELF/ND June21, 1949. G. H. LELAND BOMB SHACKLE AND RELEASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. 27, 1945 INVENTOR. GEUREE H L EL FIND Mm N l I l I l I lul June21, 1949. LELAND BOMB SHACKLE AND RELEASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept.2'7, 1945 INVENTOR. E-EDREE h. L 5/. FIND June 21, 1949. G. H. LELAND2,473,597

BOMB SHACKLE AND RELEASE Filed Sept. 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June1949- Q s. H. LELAND 2,473,597

BOMB SHACKLE AND RELEASE Filed Sept. 27, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. EEURE-E H. L EL H/vr/ Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE BOMB SHACKLE AND RELEASE George H. Leland, Dayton, OhioApplication September 27, 1945, Serial No. 618,823

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for supporting a bomb on an aircraftand for releasing the same, commonly called a bomb shackle.

One object of the invention is to provide a bomb shackle having embodiedtherein electrically controlled means for releasing the bomb.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bomb shackle in whichthe connections between the bomb supporting elements and the releasingmeans are such that only a small force is required to actuate thereleasing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bomb shackle in whichthe releasing device is spring operated and its movement is controlledby an electrically operated device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bomb shackle havingelectrically controlled. means for supporting and releasing the bomb andelectrically controlled means for armin the bomb.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bomb shackle havingelectrically controlled means for supporting and releasing the bomb anda plurality of electrically controlled and selectively operable armingdevices.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the shackle is described indetail.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a 1011-- gitudinal section takenthrough the shackle on the line l| of Fig. 2 and showing the controllingmechanism in elevation; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shackle;Fig. 3 is a side view of one end portion of the shackle, with the frontwall broken away, on a larger scale and showing the lockin mechanism inits released position; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing thelocking mechanism in locking position; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectiontaken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66of Fig. 1; Fig. 'l' is a side elevation of the switch unit; Fig. 8 is aplan view of the switch unit; Fig. 9 is an end view of the switch unit;Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the rotary solenoid; Fig. 11 is a sectiontaken on the line llll of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is a section on the linel2-I2 of Fig. 10.

In these drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinvention and. have shown the same as comprising a supporting structurewhich in the present instance is in the form of a housing comprising alongitudinal member Iii U-shaped in cross section, as best shown in Fig.5, and having the intermediate portions of its side walls cut away toprovide the same with relatively narrow flanges II at the top thereof,the end portions l2 and I3 extending for substantially the full width ofthe shackle. Rigidly secured to the respective sides of the U-shapedstructure are reenforcing plates 14 which serve both to re-enforce theend portions [2 and I3 and to enclose the mechanism within the cut awayportion of the U-shaped structure. Mounted on the supporting structurenear the respective ends thereof are bomb supporting elements 15 and I6which are movable into and out of bomb supporting positions. As hereshown, the supporting elements are in the nature of levers arrangedbetween the side walls of the housing and pivotally mounted on studs Hand i8 mounted in the side walls of the housing. The housing is providedadjacent the axis of each lever with a recess IS. The lower portion ofeach lever is enlarged as shown at 20 so that it extends radially forsubstantially the full width of the adjacent recess I9, and the enlargedportion is provided with a recess 2| so arranged that when the lever isin bomb releasing, or non-supporting, position, as shown in Fig. 3, therecess will face the open lower end of the recess I9 and will be spacedfrom the walls thereof far enough to permit the attaching device or eye22 which is carried by the bomb to be inserted in or removed from therecess 2|. When the lever is in its locked or bomb supporting position,as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the lower wall of the recess 2| isapproximately horizontal so as to substantially close the recess l9 andretain the attaching device 22 on the lever. Preferably the levers aremoved to supporting positions by inserting the attaching devices 22 inthe recesses of respective levers and moVing the bomb upwardly to causethe attaching devices to engage the upper walls of the recesses 2| andthus move the levers about their axes to supporting positions, in whichthey are locked by means to be hereinafter described. The levers l5 andit are connected one with the other by a bar 23 to cause them to move inunison, and in the present instance the bar 23 is connected with a fixedpart of the supporting structure by a spring 24 which tends to hold thesupporting levers in their non-supporting positions.

The means for locking the bomb supporting elements or levers insupporting positions may-take various forms but the locking means hereshown is simple in construction and is of such a character that only asmall force is required to release the same when the bomb is to bedropped. As here shown, the locking mechanism comprises a fixed lockingmember 25 in the form of a block rigidly secured to the side walls ofthe supporting structure. A movable locking member 26, preferably in theform of anelongate arm, is pivotally mounted on the bomb supportinglever at one end of the shackle, in the present instance the lever I 5,and is longitudinally movable thereby lengthwise of the shackle. Thisarm is provided with a part, such as the shoulder 21, to engage thefixed stop 25, and the shoulder 21 and the part 28 of the fixed stopwith which it contacts are provided with inclined surfaces so arrangedthat when the movement of the arm 26 about its axis is unrestrained theweight of the bomb on the lever will cause the shoulder 21 to ride overthe surface 23 of the fixed stop and thereby release the supportinglever for movement to a non-supporting position. A movable member isprovided for preventing the pivotal movement of the arm 26 and thusretaining the shoulder 2 7 in looking engagement with the fixed stop,the force exerted on the supporting lever by the weight of the bombbeing thus exerted very largely upon the fixed stop. The movable memberis preferably in the form of a lever 29 pivotally mounted on the housingat 30 and having at one end a nose 3| the lower surface of which isinclined upwardly and toward the arm 26 and is adapted to overhang theend of the arm 26 and thus restrain the pivotal movement of the latter.The lever 29 is releasably retained in locking position, that is in aposition in which the nose 3| overhangs the end of the arm 26, and whenthe lever is released it oifers no substantial resistance to themovement of the arm 26 and. the Weight of the load on the supportinglever l will cause the shoulder 21 to ride up the inclined surface ofthe fixed stop and the end of the arm will rock the lever 29 about itsaxis and thus permit the arm to move upwardly and inwardly above thelever as shown in Fig. 3. When the supporting lever I5 is again moved tosupporting position the end of arm 26 will move outwardly beyond thenose 3| of lever 29' and then downwardly and inwardly beneath that nose.To insure the prompt downward movement of the arm a spring 26a, isarranged to exert a light pressure on the upper edge thereof. Itisdesirable that the looking lever 29 shall be returned to its initialposition immediately following the release of the bomb so that thereleasing device may be moved into supporting engagement with the leverwhile the bomb supporting lever l5 and its arm 26 are in non-supportingpositions. For this purpose the stop block 25 is provided with alongitudinal bore in which is slidably mounted a rod 32 the inner end ofwhich contacts with a finger 33 extending downwardly from the axis ofthe locking lever 29. When the locking lever is in looking position therod projects forwardly beyond the stop block 25 into engagement with thefinger 33. When the locking lever is released and moved downwardly bythe action of the arm 26 the finger 33 projects the other end of the rodbeyond the outer end of the stop block and into the path of a land 34 onthe supporting lever I5. This movement of the rod takes place during theinitial portion of the releasing movement of lever I5 and during thefinal portion of that movement of the lever engages the rod andpositively moves the locking lever to its initial position.

The releasing device which releasably supports the locking lever 29 inlooking position is preferably pivotally mounted in the housing and ismanually moved to its supporting or looking position and is retained inthat position by electrically controlled means which may be energizedfrom a point remote from the shackle to permit the releasing device tobe moved by its actuating means to releasing position and thus permitthe locking mechanism to operate to release the bomb. In theconstruction here shown this releasing device is supported on a shaft 35extending transversely to the supporting structure or housing, andmounted on that shaft for movement about the axis thereof is a strongrigid member 36 having an arcuate upper end surface 31. Rigidly securedto this rigid member are plates 38, see Fig. 5, which extend above theupper end of the member 36, and mounted between the plates 38 is aroller 39 which has rolling support on the arouate edge of the member36. Rigidly connected with the rigid member 36 is a disk 40 having ondiametrically opposite sides thereof notches 4|. Springs 42 are mountedon studs 43 on opposite sides of the disk it, one end of each spring iscurved about the disk and its free end is seated in the notch M in thatside of the disk opposite the stud on which the spring is mounted. Thusthe springs act on the disk 40 and the parts secured thereto to rotatethe same in clockwise direction, in Fig. 1, which is releasingdirection.

Rigidly connected with the rigid member 36 and the disk 4c is an arm 44the end portion 15 of which is offset, as shown in Fig. 2, to engage aretaining member 26, and mounted on this arm is a stud ii. Rotatablymounted on the shaft 35 is a hand lever is arranged to engage the stud3'. and move the releasing device against the action of the springs, ina counter-clockwise direction, to move the roller 39 to a positionbetween the rigid member 36' and the. locking lever 23 so that suchforce as is transmittedfrom the locking arm 25 to the locking lever 29is exerted on. the rigid member 36 of the releasing device. The handlever :38 is preferably returned to its initial position immediatelyupon its release, as by a spring 49. When the retaining member 49 ismoved out of engagement with the arm 35 the springs 42 rotate thereleasing device in the clockwise direction to move the roller 39 out ofsupporting engagement with the locking lever 29. The rolling movement ofthe roller on the arcuate edge of the rigid member 36 permits thismovement to be easily efiected by the springs 32 and the end of thelever 29 moves freely over the surface of the roller as the latter movesbeyond the same. Preferably the roller has a limited bodily movementwith relation to the plates in which it is mounted and is held normallyin its outermost position by a light spring 58. Thus the roller canyield slightly and can absorb any force exerted thereon by the lever 29which would otherwise be transmitted to the arm i l and increase thepressure thereof on the retaining member 46.

The member 36 which acts on the arm id to retain the releasing device insupporting engagement with the locking lever may be actuated in anysuitable manner to release the arm 44' and thus permit the releasingdevice to be rotated by the springs and preferably the means for somoving the retaining member is electrical so that it may be energizedfrom a point remote from the shackle. In the present instance this meanscomprises a rotary solenoid of. the type shown and described in myapplication for patent Ser. No. 542,188, filed June 26, 1944, and formsno part of the present invention except as it enters into combination ofthe other parts of the apparatus. As shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12; thesolenoid comprises a casing 5| cup shaped in form and having in its rearwall an opening 52; and the front wall of the casingis closed by aplate53- to which a core 54 is secured, and preferablyformed integrallytherewith. A shaft 55 is mounted. in the core 54 for both rotarymovement and axial movement and projects beyond the core, and anarmature 56 is rigidly secured thereto. The armature extends through theopening 52 into the casing and an energizing coil 51' is mounted in thecasing about the adjacent portions of the armature and the core. Rigidlysecured to the armature is a plate 58 which overlaps the rear wall ofthe casing. Formed respectively in the rear wall of the casing and inthe plate 53 are a plurality of pairs of opposed recesses 59 and 60. Therecesses are arcuate in form and the bottom walls or bases thereof areinclined in opposite directions, and mounted in each pair of recesses isa ball 6 I. When the armature is in its normal or unenergized positionthe balls will be in the shallow overlapping parts of the recesses, asshown in Fig. 12. When the solenoid is energized the magnetic flux willmove the armature axially and the pressure thus exerted by the plate 58on the balls will cause the plate and therefore the armature and shaftto rotate through an arc, the length of which is determined by thelength of the grooves. The retaining device 46 is connected with thearmature of the solenoid for rotary movement therewith and in thepresent arrangement it is carried by a plate 62 rigidly secured to theend of the shaft 55 which projects beyond the front wall 53 of thecasing. The retaining member is yieldedly held in retaining position bya spring 53 which connects the plate with a fixed part of the supportingstructure and the arrangement of the recesses 59 and 6B is such that theenergization of the magnet will rotate the armature and therefore theplate 62 counter-clockwise against the action of the spring. The arm 46of the releasing device has an inclined end surface 54 so arranged thatwhen the arm is moved upwardly by the lever 38 this inclined surfacewill engage the retaining member 46 and move the same in acounter-clockwise direction, against the action of the spring 63, untilthe end of the arm has passed the retaining member, which is then movedbeneath the end of the arm by the action of the spring. No part of theweight of the bomb load is exerted on this retaining member and theforce necessary to move the same out of engagement with the arm 44 needonly be suificient to overcome the pressure due to the action of therelatively light springs 42. Therefore, the energization of the magnetwill move the retaining member out of engagement with the arm, therebypermitting the releasing device to be moved by its springs out ofsupporting relation to the locking lever and permitting the latter tomove to a position to release the bomb supporting levers. In order thatthe bomb may be manually released the plate 62 is provided with anupwardly extending finger I62 arranged to be engaged and actuated by apin I63 on a trip lever 1'64.

It is also desirable that the shackle shall include an arming devicewhich is electrically operated to permit it to be controlled from apoint remote from the shaft. Some bombs are provided with two firingmechanisms, one at the nose of the bomb and the other at the tail of thebomb,

and it is desirable to provide separate arming tends through a part ofthe bomb in the path of a movable part of the firing mechanism to lockthe latter against operation. This arming wire is releasably connectedwith the aircraft and when the bomb is to be dropped in an armedcondition the connection between the arming wire and the aircraft ismaintained and as the bomb falls it is pulled off of the wire and thefiring mechanism thus released for operation. When the bomb is to bedropped unarmed the wire is disconnected from the aircraft so that itwill fall with the bomb and the firing mechanism will not be released.When the bomb is provided with two firing mechanisms there are, ofcourse, two arming wires. Therefore, I have provided the present shacklewith two arming devices so that the latter can be used with a bombhaving a single firing device or with a bomb having two firing devices.

The two arming devices are mounted side by side within the housing andon the front wall thereof, as indicated at 55 and 55. Each arming devicecomprises a solenoid including a casing 51, a sleeve 68 arrangedcentrally of the casing, and an energizing winding mounted in the casingabout the sleeve. The rear wall of the casing is provided with anopening in line with the sleeve and mounted in this opening is a closureor a plug '58 having at its outer end a head H which engages the outersurface of the end wall of the casing, this head being preferablyfrusto-conical in form. Mounted in the forward portion of the sleeve isa movable core 12 to which is secured a plunger '53 which extendsthrough a bore M in the closure '59. The bore 14 is provided with anenlarged portion E5 and a spring 16 is supported in this enlargedportion and confined between the shoulder at the lower end thereof andthe core i2, so that the spring tends to urge the core and plungerrearwardly. The core is provided with a tapered rear portion ll adaptedto extend into a correspondingly shaped recess in the forward end of theclosure 1E] when the solenoid is energized. Slidably mounted on the rearwall of the housing is a bar 18 which is provided with two forwardlyextending projections 19 and which are so arranged that they will beline with and close to the frusto-conical portion of the solenoid whenthe bar is in its normal position. The sides of each projection 19 andconverge toward the solenoid so as to provide between the projection andthe end of the solenoid a V-shaped annular groove adapted to receive theloop shaped end of an arming wire 8!. The bar 18 has two longitudinalslots 82 and 83, one end portion of each slot bein in the path of theplunger 13 of the corresponding solenoid. The bar 18 is connected at oneend with the adjacent bomb supporting lever It by means of a pin 84extending through a slot 85 in the bar. A spring 86 holds the barnormally in a position with the ends of the slots in line with theplungers. When the bombardier has determined which firing device is tobe armed he closes the circuit for the solenoid of the correspondingarming device, thus causing the plunger l3 thereof to be projectedthrough the corresponding slot in the bar I8 and to a point close to thewall of the housing, so that it extends through the looped end of thearming wire, the plunger being retained in this position until the bombhas been released. As the bomb supporting levers move to releasinpositions the lever It moves the bar "it to withdraw the projections 19and 80 thereof from the small diameter ends of the respective solenoids,thus disengaging the arming wires from the bar and the solenoid ,casings, but the plunger of the selected arming device having beenprojected through the looped end of the arming wire the latter is stillconnected with the shackle and is prevented from falling with the bomb.The plunger of the other solenoid not having been projected thewithdrawal of the bar projection releases that arming wire so that itmay fall with the bomb.

The several solenoids are connected in exterior switches which enter theshackle through a cable I65 and are respectively controlled by remoteswitches located adjacent the bombardiers station not here shown. Therotary solenoid is grounded on the frame of the shackle and is connectedwith the exterior circuit by switch means on the shackle and socontrolled by the releasing device that it will be closed when thereleasing device is moved to its locking or cocked position and will beopened after the releasing device has been actuated to release the bomb.In the present construction the switch means on the shackle comprises asingle switch unit having three pairs of contacts, as shown in Figs. 7to 9, the contacts 89 and 99 being in circuit with the rotary solenoid,and the contacts 9! and 92 being in circuit with a signal lamp, notshown. The contacts 89 and 91 are normally spaced from the co-operatingcontacts 90 and 92 and the resilient arm which supports the contact 89is also provided with a second contact 93 which is in engagement withthe fixed contact 94 when the contacts 89 and 90 are in their normalseparated positions. The movement of the contact 89 continues after itengages contact 99 and moves the supporting arm for the latterrearwardly and thus separates the contacts 93 and 94 and retains thatcircuit open until contacts 89 and 90 have been again separated. Thecontacts 93 and 94 control a transverse circuit, that is, they serve toconnect the exterior circuit with a second bomb shackle after the bombhas been released from the first shackle, so that successive closings ofthe exterior circuit will cause a plurality of shackles to release theirbombs successively. Means are provided for closing the contacts 89 and99 and 9| and 92 and separating contacts 93 and 94 when the releasingdevice is moved into supporting engagement with the locking lever 29.For this purpose the contacts 89 and 9| are connected by a bar 95 and amovable actuating member or pin 96 engages the lower surface of the bar.Extending beneath and engaging the pin 96 is a lever 97 which is pivotedat one end, at 93, and has its other end arranged above the end portion45 of the arm 44, so that when that arm is actuated to move thereleasing device to its supporting position the lever 9'! will be movedupwardly and the contacts 89 and 99 and 9| and 92 closed. Thebombardiers switch being open at this time, the rotary solenoid is notenergized but the contacts 89 and 90 remain closed and when thebombardiers switch is closed the rotary solenoid is energized to retractthe retaining member 46 and thus permit the bomb supporting levers tomove to releasing positions. The rotation of the plate 62, which carriesthe retaining member, moves a projection 99 thereon into engagement withthe lever 9! and retains the contacts 89 and 99 closed so long as therotary solenoid is energized. When the bombardiers switch is opened therotary solenoid is de-energized, the plate 62 returns to its normalposition, the lever 9! drops and the contacts 89 and 90 and 9| and 92separate. The movement of the contact 99 to its normal position movescontact 93 into engagement with fixed-contact 8.. 94-, thus connectingtheexterior circuit with the switch of the second bomb release, so thatthe bomb carried by the later will be released upon the next closing ofthe bombardiers switch.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understoodthat I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements mounted on said structure for movement into and out ofsupporting positions, means including a movable member for locking saidsupporting elements in supporting positions, a releasing device toretain said movable member in locking position, spring means for movingsaid releasing device to releasing position, an arm connected with saidreleasing device to move the same against action of said spring means tolocking position, a retaining member to engage said arm and hold saidreleasing device against movement by said spring means, and electricallycontrolled means to move said retaining member out of engagement withsaid arm and thus permit the movement of said releasing device by saidspring means.

2. A bomb shackleI comprising a. supporting structure, bomb supportingelements mounted on said structure for movement into and out ofsupporting positions, means including a movable member for locking saidsupporting elements in supporting positions, a releasing device toretain said movable member in locking position, spring means for movingsaid releasing device to releasing position, an arm connected with saidreleasing device to move the same against action of said spring means tolocking position, a retaining member to engage said arm and hold saidreleasing device against movement by said spring means, and a solenoidhaving a rotary armature so connected with said retaining member'thatthe energization of said solenoidwill move said retaining member out ofengagement with said" arm and release said releasing device for movementby said spring means.

3. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements mounted on said structure for movement into and out ofsupporting positions, means, including a. movable member for lockingsaid supporting elements in supporting positions, a releasing devicemounted on said structure for movementabout a fixed axis and including arigid member having an arcuate end surface, a roller spaced outwardlybeyond said arcuate surface, spring means for actuating said device,means. for moving said releasing device against the action of saidspring means,

toposition said roller between said rigidmember and said movable.locking member, a. movable.

member to retain said releasing device in said position, and means forretracting said retaining member to release said devicefor movement bysaid spring means- 4. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure,bomb supporting elements mounted on said structure'for movement into andout ofsupporting positions, means including a movable member for lockingsaidsupporting elements in supporting positions, a, shaft supported onsaid structure, a releasing. device including a rigid. member mounted onsaid: shaft for movement about the axis thereof-:andrhaving an arcuateend:

surface, a plate secured to said rigid member and extending beyond saidarcuate surface, a roller tion, a lever movable about the axis of saidshaft and arranged to engage said projection and move said deviceagainst the action of said spring means to position in said rollerbetween the arcuate surface of said rigid member and said movable memberof the locking means, a movable member to engage said arm and retainsaid roller in said position, and means for retracting said retainingmember to release said device for movement by said spring means.

5. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements pivotally mounted on said structure and connected one with theother for simultaneous movement into and out of supporting positions,means for looking said supporting elements in said supporting positionsincluding a fixed locking member carried by said structure, an armconnected with one of said supporting elements for movement thereby andhaving a part arranged to have locking engagement with said fixedlocking member when said supporting element is in supporting position,and a member mova-bly supported on said structure and having a part toengage said arm and retain the same in lookin engagement with said fixedlocking member, a releasing device movably supported on said structureand including a part to engage said movable member and retain the samein engagement with said arm, means for actuating said device to movesaid part thereof out of engagement with said movable member, andreleasable means for preventing the movement of said device by saidactuating means.

6. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements pivotally mounted on said structure and connected one with theother for simultaneous movement into and out of supporting positions,means for locking said supporting elements in looking positionsincluding a fixed locking member carried by said structure and having acontact surface, an arm pivotally connected with one of said supportingelements for longitudinal movement thereby and having a contact surfaceto engage the contact surface of said fixed locking member when saidsupporting element is in supporting position, at least one of saidcontact surfaces being inclined, and a lever mounted on said structureand having adjacent one end thereof a part to engage the end portion ofsaid arm and retain the contact surface of the latter in lockingengagement with said fixed locking member, a device mounted on saidstructure for movement about a fixed axis and including a part movableinto supporting angagement with the other end portion of said lever toretain the latter for engagement with said arm, means for actuating saiddevice to move said part thereof out of supporting engagement with saidlever, and releasable means for preventing the movement of said deviceby said actuating means.

7. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements pivotally mounted on said s ructure and connected one with theother for simultaneous movement into and out of supporting positions,means for locking said supporting elements in locking positionsincluding a fixed locking member carried by said structure and having acontact surface, an arm pivotally connected with one of said supportingelements for longitudinal movement thereby and having a contact surfaceto engage the contact surface of said fixed locking member when saidsupporting element is in supporting position, at least one of saidcontact surfaces being inclined, and a lever mounted on said structureand having adjacent one end thereto a part to engage the end portion ofsaid arm and retain the contact surface of the latter in lockingengagement with said fixed locking member, a device mounted on saidstructure for movement about a fixed axis and including a part movableinto supporting engagement with the other end portion of said lever toretain the latter in engagement with said arm, means for actuating saiddevice to move said part thereof out of supporting engagement with saidlever and thereby release said supporting element for movement to anon-supporting position, releasable means for preventing the movement ofsaid device by said actuating means, and means controlled by themovement by said supporting element to said non-supporting position toreturn said lever to its initial position.

8. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements pivotally mounted on said structure and connected one with theother for simultaneous movement into and out of supporting positions,means for locking said supporting elements in locking positionsincluding a fixed locking member carried by said structure and having acontact surface, an arm pivotally connected with one of said supportingelements for longitudinal movement thereby and having a contact surfaceto engage the contact surface of said fixed locking member when saidsupporting element is in supporting position, at least one of saidcontact surfaces being inclined, and a lever mounted on said structureand having adjacent one end thereto a part to engage the end portion ofsaid arm and retain the contact surface of the latter in lookingengagement with said fixed locking member, a releasing device mounted onsaid structure for movement about a fixed axis and including a rigidmember having an arcuate end surface, a part extending beyond saidarcuate surface, a roller carried by said part and engaging said arcuatesurface, and spring means to actuate said device, means for moving saidreleasing device against the action of said spring means to positionsaid roller between said rigid member and said lever, a movable memberto retain said releasing device in said position, and means forretracting said retaining member to release said device for movement bysaid spring means.

9. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements pivotally mounted on said structure and connected one with theother for simultaneous movement into and out of supporting position,means for locking said supporting elements in looking positionsincluding a fixed locking member carried by said structure and having acontact surface, an arm pivotally connected with one of said supportingelements for longitudinal movement thereby and having a contact surfaceto engage the contact surface of said fixed locking member when saidsupporting element is in supporting position, at least one of saidcontact surfaces being inclined, and a lever mounted on said structureand having adjacent one end thereto a, part to engage the end portion ofsaid arm and retain the contact surface of the latter in lockingengagement with said fixed locking member, a shaft supported on saidstructure, a releasing device including a rigid member mounted on saidshaft for movement about the axis thereof and having an ar cuate endsurface, a plate secured to said rigid member and extending beyond saidarcuate surface, a roller supported by said plate in contact with saidarcuate surface and capable of limited bodily movement with relation tosaid plate, and spring means for actuating said device, an arm connectedwith said rigid member and having a lateral projection, alever movableabout the axis of said shaft'and arranged to engage said projection andmove said device against the action of said spring means to positionsaid roller between the arcuate surface of said rigid member and thelever of said locking means, a movable member to engage the lastmentioned arm and retain said roller in saidposition, and means forretracting said retaining member to release said device for movement bysaid spring means.

10. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements pivotally mounted on said structure and connected one with theother for'simultaneous movement into and out of supportingpositions,means for looking said supportingelem'ents in'locking positionsincluding a fixed lockingmember carried by said structure and havingacontact surface, an arm pivotally connected with one of said supportingelements for longitudinal movement thereby and having a contact surfaceto'engage the contact surface of said fixedio'ckingmember whensupporting element is in supporting position, at least one of saidcontactsurfaces being inclined, and a lever mounted on said'structureand having adjacent one end thereto a part to engage the end portion ofsaid'arm and retain the contact surface of the latter inlockingengagement with said fixed locking-member, a releasing device mounted onsaid 'stru'cturefor movement about a fixed axis and including a rigidmember having an arcuate end'surface, a part extending beyond saidarcuate-surface, a roller carried by said part and engagingsai'd arcuatesurface, and spring means to actuate said device, means for moving saidreleasing device against the action of said spring means to positionsaid roller between said rigid member and said lever, a solenoidcomprising a rotatable armature and means controlled by the energizationthereof for rotating said armature, a retaining member connected withsaid armature for rotation therewith in spaced relation to the axisthereof, means for moving said retaining member to and yieldablyretaining the same end in a position to prevent the movement of saidreleasing device by said spring means, whereby theenergization of saidsolenoid will retract said retaining member and release said supportingelements for movement to non-supporting positions.

11. A bomb shackle comprising a supporting structure, bomb supportingelements mounted on said structure for movement into and out ofsupporting positions, means including a movable member for locking saidsupporting elements in supporting positions, a releasing device toretain said movable member in said locking position, spring means formoving said releasing device to a releasing position, an arm connectedwith said releasing device to move the same against the action of saidspring means to locking position, a retaining member to engage said armand hold said releasing device against movement by said spring means, anelectrical device for moving said retaining member out of engagementwith said arm, means including a switch to control the operation of saidelectrical device, and means actuated by said arm to close said switchas said releasing device moves against the action of said spring.

GEORGE H. LELAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nmnber Name Date 2,341,457 Markey et a1 Feb. 8,1944 2,374,066 York et al Apr, 17, 1945 2,416,028 Sloan Feb. 18, 19472,430,940 Leland Nov. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date678,917 France Jan. 2, 1930

